Accelerating Plastic Pollution Mitigation through Sustainable Urban Infrastructure Development

Abstract

Plastic waste plagues both land and aquatic environments. The surface layer refers to the road pavement layer that comes into direct contact with a vehicle's wheel surface. The surface layer distributes wheel load far more evenly than the layer underneath. The surface layer design incorporates top-notch materials that can be used as additives to enhance the quality of the asphalt mixture. This study evaluates the asphalt mixture's durability using Marshall characteristics and Cantabria tests carried out in a lab setting. An ideal asphalt concentration of 5.25% is obtained. Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is added to the asphalt mixture at various contents, 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%. The study's findings indicate that adding plastic waste to the asphalt mixture can enhance its performance. The two main mitigating actions are probably plastic prohibition laws and public awareness campaigns. To evaluate the possible environmental effects and resources utilized over the course of a plastic product's life span, researchers stress the importance of its life cycle assessment and circularity. Innovations are necessary to minimize, reuse, recycle, recover, and develop environmentally friendly plastic substitutes. By empowering and educating communities and citizens on how to reduce plastic pollution and use alternative plastic solutions, governments must enforce and promote collective action. This research must prioritize addressing plastic waste as a global issue.